Guests of “Quelle époque!”, Léa Salamé's show broadcast on France 2, this Saturday, November 23, the two former Prime Ministers had a tense exchange about France's place on the international scene and its role on the ongoing conflicts.
This Saturday, November 23, the program “Quelle époque”, presented by Léa Salamé, notably received two former prime ministers. Dominique de Villepin, in office from 2005 to 2007, and Élisabeth Borne, at Matignon from 2022 to 2024.
Exchanges then quickly grew between them, particularly around France's place in global conflicts and on the international stage.
“A fight to defend principles”
“I would not recall Emmanuel Macron's position when he visited the Middle East for the first time, indicating that it was necessary to form an anti-terrorist coalition, I do not believe that this is the initiative he had to” expressed firstly Dominique de Villepin. “The fight that must be waged and which France is not waging sufficiently is a fight to defend principles. International law must be respected in either case” he continues, talking about the conflict in Ukraine and that in the Middle East.
Elisabeth Borne then explains that France very quickly affirmed on October 7 that'”Israel had the right to defend itself in accordance with international law”asking him what his “magic solution”.
“I don’t accept it!”
When he replies that the “magic solution” would not accept, the Macronist MP retorts “I don't accept it! The massacres in the Gaza Strip, I don't accept them.”
The former Minister of Foreign Affairs then pleads for France to propose a new ceasefire resolution at the UN after the publication of an arrest warrant against Netanyahu. “Will Joe Biden have the courage, or rather lack of courage, to once again oppose a resolution?”justifying that “diplomacy is trying again and trying again”.
The former Prime Minister also attacks Donald Trump who “comes with ready-made ideas” according to him. “Let’s work with the Ukrainians, with all Europeans to establish a position that will serve as a red line for Trump”explains De Villepin ending by explaining that “If Donald Trump makes Ukraine capitulate, it will appear to the entire planet that he has given in to Putin.”
In office at the time of the events, Élisabeth Borne defends “a package of sanctions against Russia”. “You are right but why settle for them knowing that they are circumvented” Dominique de Villepin then replies.
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